Apparently there's hardly anything this man can't do if he really puts his mind to it. That's probably Arnold Schwarzenegger's (75) motto. Whether bodybuilding champion, action star or politician: his life and his career are multifaceted. Maybe because he keeps getting back up, no matter what hurdles there are to overcome. It's not for nothing that he is known for the phrase "I'll be back" from the "Terminator" films. Today he is hailed as one of the most successful action actors and bodybuilders in the world.
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger, his full real name, was born on July 30, 1947 in Thal in Styria, Austria. His mother (1922-1998) was a housewife, his father (1907-1972) a gendarme and former SA chief. After attending secondary school and completing his military service, he emigrated to the USA in 1968 at the age of 21 - at that time his English skills were still very poor. Nevertheless, he later managed to get a degree in economics.
In the USA, Schwarzenegger devoted himself to a great passion: sport, especially bodybuilding. He found like-minded people and made contacts. The athletic heart of the aspiring bodybuilder at the time grew from early childhood. At the age of 14 he entered a gym for the first time and discovered weightlifting for himself. His role model was always the actor and bodybuilder Reg Park (1928-2007).
After first measuring himself against competitors in weightlifting, he won the title "Mister Universe" at the age of just 19 - to this day he is the youngest winner of this title. The win was his breakthrough on the bodybuilding scene. He aimed for the next milestone: "Mr. Olympia". In 1970 he won the coveted title in London. Relegated to second place: his idol Reg Park.
He had arrived in the bodybuilding Olympus and was virtually invincible. He made a name for himself worldwide and began touring through various countries. In 1975 he ended his sporting career only to celebrate a comeback five years later. His last appearance as a bodybuilder was a renewed participation in the "Mr. Olympia" competition in 1980, in which he made all athletes look old and won. Overall, the already established bodybuilder won seven "Mr. Olympia" and five "Mr. Universe" titles. Without a little help, however, he did not achieve his successes. In interviews, he revealed that he used to use anabolic steroids.
In addition to sports, Arnold Schwarzenegger has had a keen interest in films and series since his earliest youth. The Austrian first tried to gain a foothold in the film scene as Arnold Strong. His first role: Hercules in the film "Hercules in New York" (1969). However, his Austrian accent was so strong at the time that a voice actor had to rush in and dub Schwarzenegger. In 1976 he stood in front of the camera for "Mr. Universum" alongside Jeff Bridges (72) and Sally Field (75). In 1977, he won a Golden Globe for Best Newcomer for his portrayal of a budding bodybuilder.
The aspiring actor received international recognition at the age of 35 for his leading role in the film "Conan the Barbarian" (1982). The next milestone followed in 1984: "Terminator". The film catapulted Schwarzenegger and director James Cameron (67) to Hollywood Olympus. The role of the Austrian is best known because he only speaks 17 sentences in the whole film. To solidify his now acquired reputation as an action star, he acted in films such as "The Phantom - Commando" (1985), "Predator" (1987) and "Running Man" (1987). He also showed humor in strips like "Twins" (1988) alongside Danny DeVito (77) and "Kindergarten Cop" (1990). He was one of the highest paid actors in the film industry at the time. In addition, his Austrian accent was no longer an obstacle, but had become a trademark.
After starring in one of the highest-grossing films of all time ($500 million in gross) with "Terminator 2 - Judgment Day" (1991), less successful engagements followed. After the third part of the "Terminator" series (2003), Schwarzenegger ended his acting career for the time being and devoted himself to politics. In 2010 he returned for a guest appearance on "The Expendables" - a favor for his friend Sylvester Stallone (76). In 2015, Schwarzenegger slipped back into his iconic role as the T-800 in the fourth "Terminator" film. In total, Schwarzenegger was involved in over 70 productions - including films, series, speaking roles and documentaries.
Schwarzenegger's political career began in the 1990s. At that time he was appointed by George Bush (1924-2018) as Chairman of the National Council on Fitness and Sport. In 2003 he finally ran for the office of California governor for the Republican party. One of his supporters was multi-billionaire Warren Buffett (91). In November 2003 he was sworn in as governor. He wanted to forego his salary, as he announced at the time.
Schwarzenegger's political course was strict. Among other things, he supported the death penalty in the United States. His harsh leadership was not well received in Austria and, among other things, the revoking of his Austrian citizenship was discussed. In 2006, he didn't make himself popular in Mexico either. Because of his intensified integration policy, he was described as "racist" by Mexican politicians.
Environmental policy was particularly important to Schwarzenegger. He signed an "executive order" to reduce greenhouse gases, according to which greenhouse gas emissions should have fallen to 2000 levels by 2010. Above all, car emissions were a thorn in his side, which is why emission ceilings were set. With the "Global Warming Solutions Act" of 2006, the governor showed what he planned for his state. Schwarzenegger campaigned for the promotion of renewable energy and stipulated that by 2020, California electric companies should get a whopping 33 percent of their energy from renewable sources. In 2006, Schwarzenegger was re-elected for his second term. In 2011 he was finally replaced by Jerry Brown (84), a Democrat. Before and during his tenure, Schwarzenegger was frequently referred to as the "Governator". In 2017 he founded the Austrian World Summit, an international climate protection conference.
Arnold Schwarzenegger has a long and deep friendship with Sylvester Stallone. Together with Bruce Willis (67) and Jackie Chan (68), they both opened the "Planet Hollywood" burger chain in 1991. Of over 100 branches, there were only seven in three countries in 2020. He has been almost completely vegan since 2016 and has campaigned for this lifestyle.
The Austrian married Maria Shriver (66) in 1986 and had four children with her. There is also another illegitimate son with a housekeeper at the time.
Schwarzenegger holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Wisconsin and was awarded the Ring of Honor of the State of Styria and the Grand Decoration of Honor in Gold with Star for Services to the Republic of Austria. Whether big or small: Arnold Schwarzenegger shaped several generations and is still a role model for many today, whether in sports or film.
